The Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) has officially wrapped up its Corridor Development Initiative along Uptown’s Broadway corridor—please see the final report here. Since the final meeting on May 29, MPC staff and volunteers have been hard at work analyzing the many creative proposals Uptown residents and workers had for the former Stewart School and the land adjacent to Wilson Station. With more than 170 individual attendees and some 370 online survey respondents, this was no easy task, but here is a summary of the primary recommendations for developing both sites:
- Dense, mixed-use buildings that fit within the urban fabric of Uptown are preferred;
- Many participants stated that new housing built should be targeted to a range of income levels, with at least some portion of the building dedicated to low-income households; and
- Given the proximity of the sites to Wilson Station, developments should only include the minimum number of parking spots.
The specific recommendations, financing specifications and design details for Stewart School and the land adjacent to Wilson Station can be found in the report. 46th Ward Ald. James Cappleman’s office, along with Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Transit Authority, have agreed to use the community’s input as they move to redevelop their respective parcels. The Alderman’s commitment to this process has been immense, and MPC will continue to work closely with his office to promote the community’s vision for the Broadway corridor.
MPC’s commitment to Equitable Transit-Oriented Development continues and we’ll be working with 35th Ward Ald. Rey Colón to facilitate another Corridor Development Initiative for the land above the Logan Square Blue Line Station, a city-owned parcel located in the heart of Logan Square. As the housing market recovers and construction projects rebound, the importance of engaging communities to plan for new growth and development becomes even more critical. MPC continues to favor smart growth near transit, jobs and retail and looks forward to working with communities and leaders across the region to realize our vision.